Ambient air quality and drug aftermaths of the Notte Bianca (White Night) holydays in Rome

The environmental impact of Notte Bianca (White Night) holidays held during September 2007 in
Rome, Italy, was investigated by measuring aerial concentrations of several genotoxic, psychotropic or
source-dependent organic pollutants. Chemical characterization of airborne particulates collected
concurrently at Montelibretti RM (semi-rural locality lying 30 km NE of Rome centre) was used as
a reference. n-Alkanes, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrogen/oxygen-containing
polyaromatic compounds (PAC) did not seem to undergo important enhancements during the holiday
celebration, whilst recreational drugs peaked downtown (87 vs 41 pg m3, on the average, of cocaine,
and 5.0 vs. 2.6 ng m3 of nicotine). By contrast, a simultaneous raising of aerial drugs was not detected
at Montelibretti.